Wales’s Jack Davidson secured a thrilling victory at the Egypt Golf Series held at Marassi Golf Resort, triumphing over Spain’s Juan Salama in a dramatic play-off. Both players concluded regulation play with an impressive score of 14 under par, after identical rounds of four-under-par 68.
In the play-off on the par-five 18th hole, Davidson and Salama found the fairway from the tee. Davidson struck first with his approach, reaching the center of the green, while Salama’s second shot landed just off the green. Though he attempted an eagle chip, Salama’s execution fell short due to an unfavorable lie. Davidson then sunk a 25-foot eagle putt to clinch the win.
Davidson’s victory capped an extraordinary week for the Welshman. After struggling with a one-over-par 71 in his opening round, he rebounded spectacularly with a record-equalling 63 in the second round, moving him back into contention.
Reflecting on his journey, Davidson noted the challenges he faced over the past few years. “I wasn’t really in the tournament after the first round,” he said, acknowledging the impact of his second-round performance on his confidence. He emphasized the importance of staying patient throughout the day, especially as he battled to reach the play-off.
His final round, which included birdies on the fourth, seventh, and ninth holes, featured a steady performance on the back nine. A final birdie at the 18th hole allowed him to force extra holes and secure his place in the play-off.
Davidson spoke candidly about his struggles with the game in recent years, attributing his success to the support team he has built around him. “The last couple of years haven’t been easy for me,” he explained. “Over the past few months, I’ve made some big changes and built an amazing support team around me, and they’ve completely turned both my game and my mindset around.”
He also expressed appreciation for the return of the MENA Golf Tour, which has provided him the opportunity to compete against strong international fields on high-quality courses. Davidson walked away with $18,000 from the event’s $100,000 prize purse, along with valuable Official World Golf Ranking points.
In the standings, Scotland’s Michael Stewart came in third at 13 under par after a closing round of 68. Czech golfer Dominik Pavoucek and England’s Curtis Knipes shared fourth place, both finishing at 11 under par. MENA Golf Tour Rankings leader Chris Wood finished tied for 15th at eight under par. Meanwhile, Egypt’s Adam Elshamy, who secured both the leading amateur and leading Egyptian titles for the second consecutive week, ended his tournament at one under par.
Elshamy expressed his admiration for playing alongside Wood in the final round, noting the professionalism and consistency Wood demonstrated. He emphasized the importance of adopting a more process-driven approach to his game moving forward.
The tour now shifts to Madinaty Golf Club in Cairo for the Egypt Golf Series Madinaty, scheduled for February 3–5. This upcoming event marks the conclusion of the four-tournament Egypt Swing, promising further excitement for participants and fans alike.